Malawi

 


Learn a little about Malawi and enjoy our collection of flag printables and resources - fun for the kids and useful in all sorts of projects.

A farmer watering his sugar cane crop, Malawi
A farmer watering his sugar cane crop, Malawi

A Little Geography

  • The Republic of Malawi, in southeast Africa, borders Zambia to the northwest and is divided from Tanzania and Mozambique to the east by Lake Malawi.
  • It is a narrow landlocked country with a population of 15 million and stretches 900 km from north to south. Malawi was originally settled by Bantu people,and was later part of the Arab-Swahili slave trade.
  • Blantyre, the second biggest city, is named after Livingstone's birthplace in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  • Malawi prides itself on being the 'warm heart of Africa' because the local people will give you a friendly welcome.
  • Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa. It is known as "the calendar lake" as it is about 360 miles long by 52 miles wide! It contains the most species of fish in the world at over 500 mostly tropical fish called cichlids, many of which are used in aquariums. Tourists flock to 'beach' resorts such as Monkey Bay.
  • Nyika is the country's largest National Park. The plateau habitat of rolling hills and pine valleys is unique in Africa and a haven for leopards, antelopes and zebra.
  • Agriculture accounts for 90% of exports with tobacco, tea and sugar cane the most widely grown crops.

A Little History

  • The earliest human settlements in Malawi date back 50,000 to 60,000 years ago to the Bushmen people, who were simple hunters and gatherers.  By the 4th century AD Bantu people arrived in the area introducing iron tools and weapons, and they also started farming in the area.
  • In the 15th century the Mararvi empire was built by the people living south of Lake Nyasa. 
  • British missionary David Livingstone was the first European here in 1859, naming what is now Lake Malawi, Lake Nyasa.
  • In 1889 Britain claimed the territory as a protectorate, and in 1908 renamed the colony Nyasaland.
  • Modern Malawi gained independence in 1964.
  • Malawi was a one-party state until 1994. In 2012 Joyce Banda became President.

A beautiful beach in Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi
A beautiful beach in Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi

And some interesting facts...

  • On Likoma Island, visitors may be surprised to find the huge stone St Peter's Cathedral, built here in 1903, opposite the Mozambique coast.
  • The country is the second largest tea producer in Africa after Kenya.
  • David Livingstone called Lake Malawi ‘The Lake of Stars’ because of the lanterns he saw on fishing boats out on the lake which resembled bright stars. 
  • The traditional dress worn by women on Malawi is called Chitenje, a rectangular piece of fabric which comes in a variety of patterns, colours and designs. 

Malawi on map of Africa
This map shows Malawi on a map of Africa. You can find a printable version here.


The Malawi Flag

Malawi flag

This has been Malawi's flag since 1964, apart from a brief gap between 2010 and 2012. With traditional African colours, the black represents the indigenous people of Africa, green represents nature, and red represents the blood shed in the struggle of the people. The rising sun symbolises hope and freedom for the people of the African continent.


Our Malawi Flags and Other Resources

A Day In Malawi Diary

A Day In Malawi Diary

Imagine you are growing up in Malawi. Do some research, the write a diary for one day including information about the food you might eat, school, and things you might do for fun...

Climate Of Malawi Worksheet

Climate Of Malawi Worksheet

Do some research on the climate of Malawi, then write a description and fill in the weather app template on this fun worksheet.

Culture In Malawi Worksheet

Culture In Malawi Worksheet

Try and find out a little about the different aspects of culture in Malawi and write or draw about them (or stick in pictures) on this worksheet. Choose from a blank or lined version below.

Design A Tourism Poster For Malawi

Design A Tourism Poster For Malawi

Can the kids create an exciting travel poster encouraging visitors to come to Malawi? They might need to do a little research first...

Food From Malawi Worksheet

Food From Malawi Worksheet

One of the biggest sources of food in Malawi comes from Lake Malawi - can you find out what food this is, and about the other kinds of food grown and eaten there?

Malawi Booklet

Malawi Booklet

Our little foldable booklets are a great way of storing facts, figures and pictures! Just print this one and fold (instructions here) and then use it to store what you have learned about Malawi.

Malawi Coat Of Arms Worksheet

Malawi Coat Of Arms Worksheet

You can see a leopard and lion on the Malawi Coat of Arms, but can the kids explain the significance of these big cats and the other parts? If you'd like to design your own Coat of Arms for Malawi too, try Worksheet 2.

Malawi Compare And Contrast Venn Diagram

Malawi Compare And Contrast Venn Diagram

Do some research into daily life in Malawi, then map your findings onto the Venn diagram on this printable to see the differences and similarities with your own daily life.

Malawi Compare And Contrast Worksheet

Malawi Compare And Contrast Worksheet

Have you ever thought about what life might be like living in a different country? Do some research on daily life in Malawi, then compare it to your own using this worksheet.

Malawi Fact Worksheet

Malawi Fact Worksheet

Find out the answers to these questions and fill in our fact-finding worksheet on Malawi.

Malawi Facts Poster

Malawi Facts Poster

This bright and cheerful poster is a fun way to teach the kids some facts about Malawi and learn to recognise the flag too...

Malawi Factsheet

Malawi Factsheet

Here's a handy one-page factsheet to print and use as part of your studies on Malawi.

Malawi Flag Printable

Malawi Flag Printable

Print the new flag of Malawi in four different sizes - useful for all sorts of projects!

Malawi Location Worksheet

Malawi Location Worksheet

Choose from two location worksheets -one (guided) designed to help your children learn where Malawi is on a map of Africa, the other (blank" designed to test their recall.

Malawi National Flower Colouring Page

Malawi National Flower Colouring Page

This beautiful colouring page features the stunning lotus, the national flower of Malawi.

Fun Fact: Lotus plants can survive thousands of year and even revive after long periods of dormancy.

Malawi Notebooking Page

Malawi Notebooking Page

Choose one of our notebooking pages featuring the new Malawi flag, and use them to record what you have learned about this African country.

Malawi On Map Of Africa

Malawi On Map Of Africa

This outline map of Africa has Malawi marked in red, so that children can see its size, position and neighbours on the continent.

Malawi Picture Gallery

Malawi Picture Gallery

Our fun picture galleries look fantastic displayed on walls at home or in the classroom! There's space to draw 5 pictures of things to do with Malawi on this printable...

Malawi Postcard 1

Malawi Postcard 1

Can the children imagine they are visiting Malawi and write a postcard for someone back home? They need to think about the activities they might do there  - a safari perhaps?

Malawi Postcard 2

Malawi Postcard 2

Make your own postcard from Malawi! Cut out the postcard template, fold in half and stick together, then draw your own picture and write about what it would be like staying there.

Malawi Poster 1

Malawi Poster 1

Malawi is a fantastic place to visit – a land of lakes, mountains and safaris! Here's a poster showing just how beautiful it is...

Malawi Poster 2

Malawi Poster 2

This simple poster teaches the kids to recognise the outline of Malawi, and the colours of the national flag too!

Malawi Quiz

Malawi Quiz

We've got seven questions about Malawi to answer as part of this fun quiz!

Malawi Story Paper

Malawi Story Paper

Use this Malawi story paper to spark some creative writing - perhaps set on Lake Malawi, the 9th largest lake in the world?

Malawi Study Pack

Malawi Study Pack

This study pack gives you quick access to a collection of our resources on Malawi, including fact sheet, colouring flag and much more.

Malawi Tourist Leaflet

Malawi Tourist Leaflet

This writing prompt is a 3 fold leaflet - just print and fold on the dotted lines. Children need to do a little research to write a tourist leaflet all about Malawi...

Malawi Travel Brochure Worksheet

Malawi Travel Brochure Worksheet

Here's a writing exercise with a difference! Can the kids write some content for a travel brochure encouraging people to visit Malawi, and include a picture too?

Malawi Word Search

Malawi Word Search

Find the 15 Malawi-themed words hidden in the word search grid. We've included the solution if you need it too...

Malawi Worksheet

Malawi Worksheet

Kids can use this worksheet to guide their study of Malawi, or as an aide memoire to help them recall what they've learned.

Packing For Malawi Worksheet

Packing For Malawi Worksheet

Here's an empty suitcase, ready to pack with everything you need for a week in Malawi. You might want to think carefully and do some research first to make sure you've got everything! 

Wildlife Of Malawi Worksheet

Wildlife Of Malawi Worksheet

Malawi has a rich diversity of flora and fauna and has no less than nine National Parks or Wildlife Reserves full of animals and wildlife. Do some research about the animals and plants of Malawai and record your findings here...

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